20mph limit outside every school? Basildon could see restrictions imposed after panel's review

EVERY school in Basildon borough could have a 20mph speed limit outside to improve safety.

Basildon Local Highways Panel, which pours cash into road projects on behalf of Essex County Council, has set aside £15,000 to see whether they can bring in the restrictions.

Highways bosses and PSCOs are to set up camp outside schools to see how fast drivers are going and may even set up cameras to snare speeders.

After this, the new speed limit could be introduced outside all of the schools in the borough, or brought in where there are specific problems.

Keith Bobbin, Labour county councillor for Pitsea and chairman of the panel, said: “This is something I really support as there are a lot of children scared to cross the roads near to schools because of fast drivers.

“It is a big priority for us. In certain estates, such as Felmores, it is a major issue so we will see what the review brings up and then take it from there.”

If the proposals are given the go-ahead, it will represent a uturn for County Hall, as earlier this year the Tory administration claimed that cars were going too fast to bring in 20mph zones.

A series of surveys carried out at several schools saw average speeds ranged from 24mph to 34mph.

The authority said drivers have to be travelling at 24mph or under for a 20mph zone to be “achievable”.

However, campaigners did win a five-year battle for a 20mph zone outside Brightside Primary School, in Brightside, Billericay.

But parents claim the measures do not go far enough.

Nicola Levy, of Southend Road, Wickford, has two children, Charlie, ten, who goes to Hilltop Junior School, and George, 12, who goes to Beauchamps High School – both in Wickford.

She said: “It is a good idea but the trouble will be enforcing it. A lot of drivers don’t even go 30mph down the roads let alone 20mph.

“Unless they are going to install speed cameras to catch drivers I can see the majority of people continuing to go fast.”

The Echo asked Essex County Council for a comment but it did not provide one before the paper went to press.

I would be happy to see sleeping policemen before and after the school this would force drivers to slow down plus no parking within 200 yards either side? I drive by Vange Primary each day and the problem isn’t just speed but parking on the main road. Instead of looking for innocent children you have to look out for oncoming vehicles trying to get around the parked cars.

I would be happy to see sleeping policemen before and after the school this would force drivers to slow down plus no parking within 200 yards either side? I drive by Vange Primary each day and the problem isn’t just speed but parking on the main road. Instead of looking for innocent children you have to look out for oncoming vehicles trying to get around the parked cars.Vange Resident

Ok I am all about kids safety, I have 4 plus 5 grandkids. When school is in and children are about then **** right drop your speed. But what about the holidays or later on at night why not back up to 30?

You cannot put safety as a number...

Ok I am all about kids safety, I have 4 plus 5 grandkids. When school is in and children are about then **** right drop your speed. But what about the holidays or later on at night why not back up to 30?
You cannot put safety as a number...the.transporter

I care about rayleigh wrote:
Why not a parking ban between 3pm &amp; 4pm every weekday?

What about the morning to?

I thought about that, but it might provide an excuse for mums to drop their kids off late!

[quote][p][bold]the.transporter[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]I care about rayleigh[/bold] wrote:
Why not a parking ban between 3pm & 4pm every weekday?[/p][/quote]What about the morning to?[/p][/quote]I thought about that, but it might provide an excuse for mums to drop their kids off late!I care about rayleigh

In the states they have a better system - at certian times of the day they have flashing lights on fixed poles showing children crossing..

These are switched on either automatically or by the lollypop lady or the school itself.

Between the two sets of lights - you must drive at either 10 or 20 MPH as indicated. Not only are the police hot on this but the parents are too

With cases of bricks being thrown at speeding vehicles.

Outside these hours the lamps are not illuminated and the area reverts back to the speed limit of the road.

.
.

In the states they have a better system - at certian times of the day they have flashing lights on fixed poles showing children crossing..
These are switched on either automatically or by the lollypop lady or the school itself.
Between the two sets of lights - you must drive at either 10 or 20 MPH as indicated. Not only are the police hot on this but the parents are too
With cases of bricks being thrown at speeding vehicles.
Outside these hours the lamps are not illuminated and the area reverts back to the speed limit of the road.
.
.rayleigh123

Strictly enforced no parking regulations for at least five hundred yards either side of the gates on both sides of the road as well as fining drivers who park on the footpath/cycle path anywhere would help matters.

Strictly enforced no parking regulations for at least five hundred yards either side of the gates on both sides of the road as well as fining drivers who park on the footpath/cycle path anywhere would help matters.Howard Cháse

To some extent I agree with pembury53, in that pedestrians do blame road users too quickly. So many times I see not only children but adults as well crossing the road at totally the wrong time expecting road users to slam on the brakes. The shortest route to cross the road is straight across, not at an angle, also the road is not an extension of the path, it is a place where vehicles travel. I'm not for one moment suggesting that all road users are perfect, but nor are all pedestrians either. Reducing the speed limit past schools during school times is a good idea plus speed reducing means such as humps/sleeping policemen.

To some extent I agree with pembury53, in that pedestrians do blame road users too quickly. So many times I see not only children but adults as well crossing the road at totally the wrong time expecting road users to slam on the brakes. The shortest route to cross the road is straight across, not at an angle, also the road is not an extension of the path, it is a place where vehicles travel. I'm not for one moment suggesting that all road users are perfect, but nor are all pedestrians either. Reducing the speed limit past schools during school times is a good idea plus speed reducing means such as humps/sleeping policemen.RTBBAS

RTBBAS wrote:
To some extent I agree with pembury53, in that pedestrians do blame road users too quickly. So many times I see not only children but adults as well crossing the road at totally the wrong time expecting road users to slam on the brakes. The shortest route to cross the road is straight across, not at an angle, also the road is not an extension of the path, it is a place where vehicles travel. I'm not for one moment suggesting that all road users are perfect, but nor are all pedestrians either. Reducing the speed limit past schools during school times is a good idea plus speed reducing means such as humps/sleeping policemen.

in fact, as far as blaming the motorist goes, the biggest culprits are usually the bimbo trophy blond mothers, blotting out the horizon with their 'high status' 4x4's parked everwhere like they own the f*****g place, creating an even greater crossing hazard for their unruly off-spring to contend with........ NO PARKING anywhere near these schools, and let these kids walk, in safety..........

[quote][p][bold]RTBBAS[/bold] wrote:
To some extent I agree with pembury53, in that pedestrians do blame road users too quickly. So many times I see not only children but adults as well crossing the road at totally the wrong time expecting road users to slam on the brakes. The shortest route to cross the road is straight across, not at an angle, also the road is not an extension of the path, it is a place where vehicles travel. I'm not for one moment suggesting that all road users are perfect, but nor are all pedestrians either. Reducing the speed limit past schools during school times is a good idea plus speed reducing means such as humps/sleeping policemen.[/p][/quote]in fact, as far as blaming the motorist goes, the biggest culprits are usually the bimbo trophy blond mothers, blotting out the horizon with their 'high status' 4x4's parked everwhere like they own the f*****g place, creating an even greater crossing hazard for their unruly off-spring to contend with........ NO PARKING anywhere near these schools, and let these kids walk, in safety..........pembury53

I drive past the schools on Clayhill Road every morning and the number of badly parked vehicles and bad driving by parents trying to squeeze into parking spots way too small and parents crossing the road where there's no crossing despite there being a crossing island and a zebra crossing just a little way up the road which they are too lazy to walk to or even walking out from between parked cars with their buggies etc in front of them that I barely miss I see is ridiculous!

And that's not even taking into account the Woodlands kids who walk wherever they want, whenever they want with no regard to the road or vehicles on it at all!

Last year I had to ring Woodlands to ask them to speak to the kids as I had nearly run a group of girls over who had crossed the road without even looking right in front of me.

Perhaps the money should be spent on training the parents and kids to cross the road properly and take into consideration there are vehicles on it instead of always blaming the drivers and wasting the time of the PCSO's who could be better used elsewhere on more important jobs.

I drive past the schools on Clayhill Road every morning and the number of badly parked vehicles and bad driving by parents trying to squeeze into parking spots way too small and parents crossing the road where there's no crossing despite there being a crossing island and a zebra crossing just a little way up the road which they are too lazy to walk to or even walking out from between parked cars with their buggies etc in front of them that I barely miss I see is ridiculous!
And that's not even taking into account the Woodlands kids who walk wherever they want, whenever they want with no regard to the road or vehicles on it at all!
Last year I had to ring Woodlands to ask them to speak to the kids as I had nearly run a group of girls over who had crossed the road without even looking right in front of me.
Perhaps the money should be spent on training the parents and kids to cross the road properly and take into consideration there are vehicles on it instead of always blaming the drivers and wasting the time of the PCSO's who could be better used elsewhere on more important jobs.I-say-you-say

Get so called spy cars and traffic wardens and coppers down there mob handed every morning and afternoon for a week or two to nick anyone parking in the wrong place/dangerously and anyone doing over the speed limit.

That'll give them some help.

Get so called spy cars and traffic wardens and coppers down there mob handed every morning and afternoon for a week or two to nick anyone parking in the wrong place/dangerously and anyone doing over the speed limit.
That'll give them some help.Howard Cháse

Howard Cháse wrote:
Get so called spy cars and traffic wardens and coppers down there mob handed every morning and afternoon for a week or two to nick anyone parking in the wrong place/dangerously and anyone doing over the speed limit. That'll give them some help.

Howard you totally right - the parking outside our local junior school is pathetic.

Same old people park and wait on the zigzags everyday

.A total blitz is the only way these people will get the message

.

.

[quote][p][bold]Howard Cháse[/bold] wrote:
Get so called spy cars and traffic wardens and coppers down there mob handed every morning and afternoon for a week or two to nick anyone parking in the wrong place/dangerously and anyone doing over the speed limit. That'll give them some help.[/p][/quote]Howard you totally right - the parking outside our local junior school is pathetic.
Same old people park and wait on the zigzags everyday
.A total blitz is the only way these people will get the message
.
.rayleigh123

Simplest solution would be to allow the police to keep any fines they issue.
Would help to fund the police and I bet it wouldnt be very long before motorists started obeying the rules.
Win win.

Simplest solution would be to allow the police to keep any fines they issue.
Would help to fund the police and I bet it wouldnt be very long before motorists started obeying the rules.
Win win.Keptquiettillnow